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resolving power

[5.9.6.3] The ability of the eye to perceive the individual elements of a grating or any other periodic pattern with parallel elements; measured by the number of cycles per degree that can be resolved.

The resolution threshold is the period of the pattern that can be just resolved. The resolution threshold for a pair of points or lines is the distance between their centers when they can be distinguished as two, not one; expressed in minutes of arc.

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